Solar Radiation and Temperature Conditions as the Determinants of Occurrence of Phlebotomus neglectus Tonnoir (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Abstract

Sandfly species are rare Mediterranean fauna elements in Hungary. While Phlebotomus species prefer warm summers and mild winters, larvae and imagoes are sensitive to solar radiation, direct heat and low air humidity. It was proposed that diurnal patterns of solar radiation and temperature determine the breeding site occurrence of Phlebotomus neglectus Tonnoir. Light tapping, solar radiation and air temperature measurements were performed in Nagyharsány, South-Western Hungary. Hierarchical cluster and factor analyses were performed on solar radiation values according to the selected measuring which cover the floor of an abandoned quarry. A total of 202 Phlebotomus neglectus individuals were collected in 3 locations from the 6 trapping sites. Most of the individuals were trapped from one site. Characteristic differences were found in the diurnal patterns of temperature and solar radiation between the collecting sites. The non-shaded control areas received 15310 mmol m-2 s-1 solar irradiance in a sunny day, breeding sites only received 3794 mmol m-2 s-1solar irradiance per day. The major parts of the individuals were collected in the shaded environments with balanced microclimate. It was concluded that solar radiation is one of the most important factor of occurrence of breeding sites of Phlebotomus neglectus.